Whistleblower Protection and Prohibited Personnel Practices

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The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 was signed into law on November 27, 2012. The Act strengthens protection for federal employees who report waste, fraud, and abuse in government operations. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent agency that protects federal employees from "prohibited personnel practices," including whistleblower retaliation. OSC also provides an independent, secure channel for disclosing and resolving wrongdoing in federal agencies. Please see the resources below for more information about whistleblower protections and prohibited personnel practices.

Notice as to Non-Disclosure Policies, Forms, or Agreements

As an OCC employee, you may have been required to sign a non-disclosure policy, form, or agreement to access certain information. You should read the statement below as if it were incorporated into any signed non-disclosure policy, form or agreement. The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act requires that any non-disclosure policy, form or agreement contain the following statement:

These provisions are consistent with and do not supersede, conflict with, or otherwise alter the employee obligations, rights, or liabilities created by existing statute or Executive order relating to (1) classified information, (2) communications to Congress, (3) the reporting to an Inspector General of a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, or (4) any other whistleblower protection. The definitions, requirements, obligations, rights, sanctions, and liabilities created by controlling Executive orders and statutory provisions are incorporated into this agreement and are controlling.